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Zero 7
Stars indicate the most critically-acclaimed albums.
Bubblegum
EMAILPRINTby Mark Lanegan Band
Universal acclaim
Based on 23 critic reviews
How did we calculate this?
Based on 26 votes
Read user comments
Rate this album >
Album Info
Label: Beggars Banquet
Release Date: 10 August 2004
Discs: 1 disc
Genre(s): Alternative, Rock
Summary
The former Screaming Trees member and Queens Of The Stone Age collaborator returns with his sixth solo album, credited to the Mark Lanegan Band. Guests include Ween, PJ Harvey, Josh Homme, Nick Oliveri and Izzy Stradlin and Duff McKagan.
Also On Metacritic
MUSIC: Isobel Campbell & Mark Lanegan: Ballad Of The Broken Seas Mondo Generator: A Drug Problem That Never Existed Queens Of The Stone Age: Songs For The Deaf
Also On The Web: Official Artist Site
What The Critics Said
All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...
Entertainment Weekly
Alt-rock blues darker and scarier than Jon Spencer or even Jack White ever imagined. [24 Dec 2004, p.66]
ShakingThrough.net
It's a distillation of the singer's subtly different moods and modes, a cohesive and comprehensive work that stands as the most representative look yet at his musical persona.
Read Full Review >New York Magazine
Bubblegum is a blues record, a powerfully original reinterpretation of the genre.
Read Full Review >Playlouder
Lanegan's lyrics are poetic, well thought out and devastatingly honest, making this more a serious artistic account than some braggadocio bullshit. And then add to that the fact the music is just fantastic.
Read Full Review >Los Angeles Times
An album that seethes and rocks with real energy and depth. [22 Aug 2004]
Read Full Review >Filter
It takes willpower and endurance to swim down these dark, dimly lit streams of misery. Even as a listener. [#11, p.98]
Spin
Gruff stuff... A few rockers lighten the load, but not by much. [Sep 2004, p.120]
Mojo
It's the feeling of almost imperceptible menace that makes Bubblegum so unsettling. [Aug 2004, p.84]
Stylus Magazine
It is, to be frank, one of the most remarkable and forward-looking rock albums that you will hear all year, and testament to Lanegan’s ability to take desolate lyrics and fashion beautiful, redemptive tunes around them.
Read Full Review >The Onion (A.V. Club)
While the guests push and pull Lanegan in different directions, Bubblegum's songs never lose him in the translation.
Read Full Review >Uncut
It's a departure from previous Lanegan solo LPs... This time, Lanegan is looser, open to both experimentation and, once more, full-on rock. [Sep 2004, p.96]
All Music Guide
The dank emotional caverns of Bubblegum offer some territory well worth exploring for the strong-willed.
Read Full Review >New Musical Express
A record filled with such emotional scope and range that it's tailor-made to showcase Lanegan's world weary roar. [24 Jul 2004, p.47]
Blender
Lanegan has finally produced his long-threatened masterpiece. [Oct 2004, p.125]
The Guardian
It is hardly user-friendly, but Bubblegum is too good an album to languish in the margins. There is something thrilling in its unpredictable lurches between darkness and light, noise and melody. In every sense, Bubblegum is a staggering record.
Read Full Review >Q Magazine
Shows [Lanegan] to be more alive and more vital than ever. [Sep 2004, p.121]
Delusions of Adequacy
In the end, the album’s rather limited scope is justified by the masterful detail with which it is rendered, granting the listener limited entry to a place most of us wouldn’t want to stay long.
Read Full Review >cokemachineglow
If you like blues-oriented rock from a man who can pour out his soul like Robert Pollard's bartender pours Bud Lite, then, by all means, give Bubblegum a try.
Read Full Review >Pitchfork
The seamy din generated by this revolving ensemble provides a well-matched backdrop for the relentless parade of petty violence, drug deals gone sour, and squalid love affairs portrayed in these songs.
Read Full Review >PopMatters
A tad more abrasive and rocking than the late-night blooze of Whiskey For the Holy Ghost and Scraps at Midnight, Bubblegum should appeal to fans of great songwriting.
Read Full Review >Alternative Press
It's a deathfest of sound and fury, quietly melancholy and fiercely apocalyptic. But it's a tale that grows wearier with every listen. [Sep 2004, p.122]
What Our Users Said
The average user rating for this album is 9.4 (out of 10) based on 26 User Votes
Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.
Hex G. gave it a9:
Stunning album, definatley his best. "Strange Religion" and "Wedding Dress" are stand-out tracks for me
moschops gave it a9:
I must admit to having been pretty unaware of Mark Lanegan before buying this, I knew he'd done a few songs with Queens Of The Stone Age but that was it. I only really bought this because PJ Harvey was on it, but was blown awayby how good it is. Bubblegum ended up being one of my albums of the year.
danel gave it a10:
This album like all the other Lanegan albums, is a masterpiece. Lanegan is a genius for sure.
brent gave it a10:
Eeerie, irrestible. Discovered him recently. Never would connect him to the singer of Screaming Tree's I Nearly Lost You. Coulda shaved 2-3 songs off and this would be a cult masterpiece. Why the 10?: Stripped down sound/PJ Harvey doing ten times what Isobel Campbell could do in 2 songs/that voice/that writing/that insight. Lanegan is CONSTANTLY UNFAIRLY compared to Waits. Waits is a great musician/writer but he keeps a distance from his creations. That being said, Waits is powerful enough to make you cry or wistful. It's a gift. Lanegan's creations are ugly and comfortable. Places and feelings and lives and moments lived that you'd rather not discuss. Emphatic musicians on one's albums are half the battle. A very intuitive group of friends clanking away earnest and moody depending on song. I've never heard so realized and moving a self-testament in so long. And PJ Harvey on only 2 cuts makes you greedy for more. She understands this bastard and for as many duets Lanegan and Harvey have done with others, they really click together. If you've never been the protagonist in "100 Days" or "Strange Religion" no worries. It helps, but I really like this Lanegan guy, will be checking out his solo albums if I ever burn out on this CD...a truly unique and powerful American artist.
Hein gave it a10:
almost the quality of Mister Tom Waits
Dave M gave it a10:
Arcade Who?, Green Day What? Modest Mouse Why? Kayne??? Biggest collective critical whiff in recent history was this album only landing on a few end of year top ten polls. Just the Ballads alone make this Hands down best album of 2004. Add Hit the City, Head, Sideways in Reverse. A Brilliant, brilliant album.
Nathan Z gave it a10:
this is the album SETI should be transmitting to the stars. Nothing compares. When mark lanegan passes away, he will have Elvis on his left, and McCartney on his right...... jamming on the other side.
